Bicoastal No Smoke has added documentary filmmaker Patrick Creadon to its directorial roster for commercials and branded content. This marks the first time he’s had a production house affiliation in the advertising arena.
Creadon’s latest documentary, Catholics vs. Convicts, chronicles the historic 1988 college football showdown between Notre Dame and the University of Miami. It premiered on ESPN’s 30 for 30 series on Dec. 10 following the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The bitter rivalry between the two teams began in 1985 when Miami trounced Notre Dame 58–7. Leading up to the 1988 rematch, fans, players and coaches from both teams remember how the game came to be framed as “good vs. evil” in the minds of many involved.
Creadon said the film is his most personal. A third-generation graduate of Notre Dame, he was a senior at the time and his roommate was one of the students involved in the controversial t-shirt that gave the game its name (and the documentary its title). Creadon also narrates the film.
Creadon’s other films include Wordplay, the second-highest grossing documentary of 2006, which profiles Will Shortz, crossword editor for The New York Times, and I.O.U.S.A., a look at America’s debt situation that portended the global financial crisis. Roger Ebert listed the film among his top five documentaries of 2008.
No Smoke’s parent company Creative Film Management co-produced All Work All Play, Creadon’s feature-length documentary about the eSports industry, which was released theatrically last year. It is now available on Netflix.
“No Smoke is excited to introduce Patrick’s enthusiasm for documentary storytelling, pop culture and advertising to our clients,” said Andrew Swee, No Smoke partner and executive producer. “His passion and experience have a profound effect on the vibe he creates on set and in the stories he brings to the screen.”
Chicago born and bred, Creadon holds a master’s degree in cinematography from the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles where he lives with his wife and producing partner Christine O’Malley and their three children.
No Smoke is represented by Kelly Flint in the East and Robin Stevens in the Midwest.
